ECCLESIASTICAL VOICE

Old School: Lessons for the New School (II)

By Revd. Dr. Idowu Ibitoye
1. Old School adherents were faithful to their spouses – The rate of broken homes and marriages today is disheartening. In the olden days people were faithful to their marriage vows and stand faithfully with their spouses. Adultery was not as common in the society then. Wives fear thunder-bolt (magun) and always run away from every form of unfaithfulness.
Fornication and adultery has become a new order in our modern society. Cases of lecturers having affairs with their female students is frequently reported in our higher institutions of learning, bosses having unholy affair with married workers and unmarried staff members. Sex for marks, sex for promotion and sex for financial gain is rampant in the new school and this dispensation.
2. Virginity was celebrated in old school – Virginity is a thing of pride and honour in the old school, and this is celebrated by newly wedded couples and families, whereby signs signals are sent to the families of the new bride. If the signs are positive, the bride is a virgin and if negative, it means the bride has been deflowered before she got wedded, this means the woman will live in guilt and shame all her days. For this reason, every female strive to keep their virginity till the marriage night. Today, virginity is no longer celebrated and young folks engage in immorality in broad daylight; this must stop and we must go back to the drawing board and learn from old school adherents, the methods of keeping oneself pure.
3. Youth were well cultured and well nurtured – In old school era, youth were well cultured and properly nurtured by their parents, teachers and mentors. Through this, a peaceful and dignifying society was achieved. There was community discipline during this era and any youth found wanting was corporately disciplined by the community elders. By this, every youth learnt to behave and comport themselves in orderly manner. We are having chaos today in our society because many youths are not cultured and they behave immaturely. Youths of nowadays must learn from the lifestyle of the old school and adjust their ill-mannered ways of lives.
4. During old school days everyone strive for Excellence – During the time under review, everyone planned to achieve something great at a given time. Achievement and success was the motto for everyone. Likewise, old school adherent focused on their chosen career and strive for excellence. Today, excellence in the work place is becoming a thing of the past. Excellence is no longer celebrated, while we are celebrating mundane things.
5. Decent dressings was a way of living – Godly and decent dressing was another trait of the old school. People dressed to glorify God in the era and not the half-naked dresses found in the new school. The virtue of decent dressing is becoming outdated in this contemporary era.
However, new era proponents/adherents must dress in ways that will glorify God and not expose their body parts through naked Jezebelic dressing.
6. Prayer was the master key in the old school – I remember vividly that our parents do not play with prayers, and as early as 4:30am, they will wake us up for church prayer that usually commenced by 5:00am and we must get to the church before its commencement, as well as in the evening time when everyone return back to church by 7pm for the night prayer. This does not affect family devotion and fellowship. This was how our parents brought us up, teaching us the power in prayers. In our contemporary time, reverse seem to be the case for today’s parents, who do not have the time for church prayer, talk-less of family devotion. Everyone is busy looking for money, and no time for prayer to seek the face of God on vital issues. May be, this is the reason why untimely death is common nowadays. Members of the new school must remember that prayer is very important to our sustainability and progress in life.
Godly Counsel to the New School adherents
The advocates of the new school must adhere to the following godly counsel that can make them exceptionally and to stand –out in all areas, where ever they may find themselves.
i. Be righteous and truthful in all dealings – Contemporary or new school adherents must always,“stand firm then with the breast plate of righteousness in place” Eph. 6:14. In everything, righteous and truthfulness is very vital and our dealings must be based on trust, truthfulness and righteousness, this must be the parameter for living in the new school.
ii. Serve God as of Old – Our parents and forefathers served God, so must we also serve Him more than our progenitors, knowing that “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” Heb. 13:8. Our service to God and humanity will help to promote a peaceful and progressive society. Everyone must be a worker in the Kingdom of God, no one should be idle.
iii. Build a godly home – Are you married or planning to have a family? Be faithful to your partner and ensure you build a godly home where children can be nurtured and trained in the ways and manner of the Kingdom. Always remember your marital vows and run away from all forms of unfaithfulness that can ruin your marriage.
iv. Immorality must be eradicated in the new school – Can we eradicate immorality in our modern world? I want to believe it is possible; this can be achieved through concerted efforts by everyone in the new school. Religious institutions must rise to their God given duty of ensuring sanctity in every area of life. Immorality is evil and it must be eradicated.
v. Demonstrate Godly and effective leadership – I believe we need godly and effective leaders who will transform our society positively. Everyone in any position of leadership must lead according to the guidance and dictate of the Holy Spirit. Our society needs God fearing leaders now, more than ever before.
vi. Social vices must be frowned at – New school adherents must regularly frown at any sighted social vices. Everyone must constantly speak against the evil in the society.
Conclusion
Old school represents the past era, the time of our fathers and fore fathers, time of orderliness and godly virtues; in other words, old school offers lessons for the new school for the good of our society.
Concluded

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